A number of Western defense industry client countries are indirectly fueling Ukraine with weapons. In an investigation by Intelligence Online on the supply of French Crotale, Mistral, and Milan missiles to use against Russia during the NATO-orchestrated war in Ukraine. 

According to information gathered in relevant countries, a number of officially neutral governments have dipped into their military stocks to make up the shortfall caused by dwindling stocks of Western munitions after more than a year of conflict in Ukraine, despite the fact that French officials are very tight-lipped about the matter, as required by the participating countries.

Milan, Crotale and Mistral

Even though India is dedicated to its non-aligned status, the government agreed to use its stocks of several thousand Milan anti-tank missile systems of various versions. 

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have also supplied hundreds of Mistral anti-aircraft systems that were also delivered to Ukraine. 

Other countries, like Finland, which is officially engaged in supporting Ukraine, have also supplied weapons and made this public. However, like the Gulf States, South Korea, stuck between Vladivostok and Beijing, has opted for secrecy about its provision of Mistral missiles to Ukraine. 

The list of nations that have supplied larger ground-to-air Crotale missile systems, outside Ukraine's official suppliers, includes the same group of countries, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and South Korea providing the largest number of arms, along with Egypt. 

According to Intelligence Online, the route these supplies take is now well-established. The missiles are not sent directly to Ukraine, which few countries have the logistical capacity to do, but are sent back to the manufacturer in France where markings in Arabic, Korean, or Sanskrit are removed in case they fall into Russian hands. French missile manufacturer MBDA is particularly attentive to this detail.

Geostrategic balancing act

In South Korea's case, which has publicly expressed its support for Ukraine, most of the countries secretly supplying weapons want to maintain their image of neutrality. India, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are not applying US and European sanctions against Russia. 

Moreover, the Indian economy has been benefitting from cheaper Russian oil because of the sanctions. Last month, Russia became India's largest oil supplier and significantly contributed to the country's energy security. The UAE has also become a haven for Russian oligarchs, much to the chagrin of the US. 

Read next: Western public support for Ukraine falling

Another player in sending arms to Ukraine is "Israel." The Israeli occupation is donating money to buy Ukraine weapons from third countries, a Russian intelligence source told Al Mayadeen.

"Tel Aviv" is using third countries to conceal its bias toward Ukraine, the source noted, highlighting that "Israel" was giving Ukraine non-lethal aid, but several Israeli armored vehicles have been detected in Ukraine.

The Israeli Haaretz newspaper reported last month that the occupation spent millions of dollars to appease its western partners by procuring undisclosed strategic materials for Ukraine after "Tel Aviv" faced pressure to send the arms to Kiev via a third country.

Reportedly, the United States is the party that pressured the occupation, which had to go against its proclaimed stance to only send humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.